Once upon a time,
a man, in search of livelihood, on his way to another town had to pass
through a jungle. It so happened that he lost his way in the woods.
Roaming helplessly, he came across an old banyan tree, its roots hung
low and it canopied a wide area. He saw a fox sitting under the tree. At
first, he got scared, thereafter, relieved, for, he noticed that it was
lame, an old fox, mostly disabled, unable to hunt.
He sat there in a shady corner. What he witnessed a while later amazed him, he observed birds who sat on the tree occasionally dropped pieces of meat and the fox fed on them. That was how it survived. It dawned on the man that there was no need for him to run around, that, he too, like the fox, could just take up a corner somewhere, God would provide for him too.
Subsequently, he managed to navigate his way out of the forest and parked himself, under a tree, outside the first village he came across. He vowed to surrender to God and only live off what was offered to him. Only that, days went by and no one offered him anything. He was starving, at the verge of collapsing. His faith shook, just short of shattering, and he wondered how could God be partial, how come he provided for the fox and not him.
While he was engrossed in his own world, he saw a sannyasi, mystic, pass by. In his frail condition, he called out for the mystic, narrated his story, his predicament, and put him the question that bothered him. The monk chuckled, and said, "Who told you to take on the role of the fox? Are you lame? Disabled? You should be the bird, working for yourself as well as providing for those who depend on you."
The anecdote has two morals,
We cannot pick and choose roles as per our own convenience, we have to be pragmatic, realistic, honest with ourselves and get the best out of ourselves , and
Surrendering to God or having faith in Him does not mean we cease to make an effort. God help those who help themselves.
He sat there in a shady corner. What he witnessed a while later amazed him, he observed birds who sat on the tree occasionally dropped pieces of meat and the fox fed on them. That was how it survived. It dawned on the man that there was no need for him to run around, that, he too, like the fox, could just take up a corner somewhere, God would provide for him too.
Subsequently, he managed to navigate his way out of the forest and parked himself, under a tree, outside the first village he came across. He vowed to surrender to God and only live off what was offered to him. Only that, days went by and no one offered him anything. He was starving, at the verge of collapsing. His faith shook, just short of shattering, and he wondered how could God be partial, how come he provided for the fox and not him.
While he was engrossed in his own world, he saw a sannyasi, mystic, pass by. In his frail condition, he called out for the mystic, narrated his story, his predicament, and put him the question that bothered him. The monk chuckled, and said, "Who told you to take on the role of the fox? Are you lame? Disabled? You should be the bird, working for yourself as well as providing for those who depend on you."
The anecdote has two morals,
We cannot pick and choose roles as per our own convenience, we have to be pragmatic, realistic, honest with ourselves and get the best out of ourselves , and
Surrendering to God or having faith in Him does not mean we cease to make an effort. God help those who help themselves.
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